An assistant OL coach in the NFL is definitely not a promotion or upgrade from a B1G OL coach. It appears he wasn’t forced out, so obviously that points to him basically wanting out of the situation here. Feel free to read into it as much or as little as you want.

This isn't true at all. The difference between a college staff and a pro staff is huge. Better money and much better work/life balance. Also, don't forget hooking up with a new coach in Green Bay adds more stability to him and his family than staying at Illinois.

This isn't true at all. The difference between a college staff and a pro staff is huge. Better money and much better work/life balance. Also, don't forget hooking up with a new coach in Green Bay adds more stability to him and his family than staying at Illinois.

1. The O-Line did well due to experience and a much better Offense.
2. Butkus was a horrible recruiter.
3. Players continually voiced their negative opinions of Butkus.
4. Staff told me he was simply a "Mean" guy.
5. IMO, Butkus was not why our O-Line improved.

1. The O-Line did well due to experience and a much better Offense.
2. Butkus was a horrible recruiter.
3. Players continually voiced their negative opinions of Butkus.
4. Staff told me he was simply a "Mean" guy.
5. IMO, Butkus was not why our O-Line improved.

1. That helps, sure, but they also had a coach. They didn't teach themselves
2. I don't care if the on-field results are good. There are other recruiters
3. Which players specifically? Continuously?
4. How do you have a relationship with the staff? Mean? lol
5. He played a part. I guess we'll see how much soon

This isn't true at all. The difference between a college staff and a pro staff is huge. Better money and much better work/life balance. Also, don't forget hooking up with a new coach in Green Bay adds more stability to him and his family than staying at Illinois.

OTOH, Butkus has been an assistant offensive line coach in all his previous NFL stops (Jaguars, Bears) and will be an assistant offensive line coach again. Do you carry the clipboard for the actual offensive line coach? If you are OL coach in the NCAA, can you really be paid less than an assistant OL coach in the NFL?

This isn't true at all. The difference between a college staff and a pro staff is huge. Better money and much better work/life balance. Also, don't forget hooking up with a new coach in Green Bay adds more stability to him and his family than staying at Illinois.

Forgive me for going under the assumption the packers aren’t making him the highest paid Assistant OL coach in the league. We’re in agreement on the other parts. The work/life balance is definitely different in the pros and the stability thing is huge too. I think the stability thing was the biggest part. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised to see him try to get on the next Illini staff.

The Bengals are planning to hire Illinois strength coach Joey Boese to their strength and conditioning staff, per source. He worked with Zac Taylor at Texas A&M previously.https://twitter.com/FieldYates/

This is one that really stings but is fully understandable. Never mind the fact that's joining the staff of a person he knows, he made what, 225K last year? He's going to make a lot more than that now.

OFL Supplier, BU's Brylcreem

The Bengals are planning to hire Illinois strength coach Joey Boese to their strength and conditioning staff, per source. He worked with Zac Taylor at Texas A&M previously.https://twitter.com/FieldYates/

The one thing that is apparent in reading this board is that people that think Lovie is on a downward trend, have only observed the info that supports their claims following the season. The same can be said of people that think Lovie is the answer.

Indications that we be bowl eligible next year:
One more year of strength and conditioning and one more year of experience coupled with the recent influx of playmakers to a team that was otherwise borderline good enough to qualify for a bowl (I'm thinking USF and Northwestern were winnable games). With the improved quality of transfers and players in this class are all indications that next year will be better than last year.

Indications the sky is falling (I would write Lovie's career is over, but this more accurately captures the way most posters are relating to the information):
Coaches leaving along with the long drawn out hiring process with only one legit coach hired (out of 3 positions, DB, LB, DC). This lack of continuity, lack of bodies to support recruiting and strategizing are all indications that the team will not do as well.

If we look at the top category, I think it is hard to see that the team won't be in a better position.

If we look at the bottom category, there are two primary factors: coaches leaving, poor hiring. Ultimately with the poor hiring, there are a lot of unknowns. Could he not find anyone (doubtful)? Was he trying to give his son a shot (possibly)? Is he tied to his system (definitely the case)? Ultimately, people don't prefer nepotism. Got it. This also doesn't guarantee this won't work. Ultimately, I will attribute the poor ability to hire based on Lovie being tied to his system. Not many have as much experience with his system and Lovie and Miles talk football all day and night. I am not opposed to Miles being hired. But, if it doesn't work, I think Lovie should be fired. Lovie has put himself on the line and is willing to take the chance. It is his career. If this doesn't work, it will be a mistake and we will hire a new coach. If it works, then maybe Lovie wasn't as blinded as some people think.

When it comes to coaches leaving, large quantities of coaches leaving is not ideal. There are multiple different reasons for this. On the offensive side and strength and conditioning wise, we had a really strong showing of health from our line, which propelled a pretty strong season for running the ball. Rod's play calling was great, but if we had lineman injured the way receivers were injured, this team would have been awful. The RB coach leaving after the last season, where every running back performed well, is not a surprise. Same with the offensive line coach. It is unlikely the same results (no injuries) will be replicated next season (I hope it does, but I wouldn't count on it). There are rumors that Butkus was upset with something and that he was hard to work with. But who cares about speculation? From the optics, it is not such a bad time to leave if you are one of those coaches. What will be more telling will be how the hiring process goes for offensive coaches and strength and conditioning coaches. But, ultimately, there is no reason to believe the sky is falling. Whether or not Lovie wins 5 or 6 games (whichever stand you think JW takes with firing Lovie) is uncertain. And whether you think you know the answer is yes or no is irrelevant. All we can do now is watch and see how the season goes. Either Lovie will win or he won't.

OFL Supplier, BU's Brylcreem

The one thing that is apparent in reading this board is that people that think Lovie is on a downward trend, have only observed the info that supports their claims following the season. The same can be said of people that think Lovie is the answer.

.... And whether you think you know the answer is yes or no is irrelevant. All we can do now is watch and see how the season goes. Either Lovie will win or he won't.

For anyone who is ok with Miles on the staff b/c he knows the system/playbook in and out, how do you reconcile that with the fact that he was on the staff last year in a similar capacity that put out one of the worst defenses in Illinois history?

I thought we turned the corner with a solid recruiting class, but with all of the coaching departures and their subsequent replacements, I don't feel so positive anymore.

Are we glossing over the fact that Lovie was responsible for the defense last year as well? Are we just expecting it to get better because another year passed and sophomores become juniors and it will just click? We have replaced almost the entire coaching staff with extremely inexperienced coaches, on top of what was already a very suspect defense.

I truly am hoping for the best, but that really doesn't mean much when it comes to Illinois sports in general...